Jointer and planer



Dec. 2, 1952 w. 1.. GASKELL JOINTER AND PLANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2", 1947 5 Z r R z E o, mz/M E, d .w 5 i r M ii, 2 Z W4 M 8Z ii 6 z 2 Z 0 an M Ma Q a Z w Dec. 2, 1952 w. GASKELL JOINTER AND PLANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22. 1947 Dec. 2, 1952 w. L. GASKELL 2,619,997

JOINTER AND PLANER Filed March 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 2, 1952 w. L. GASKELL 2,619,997

JOINTER AND PLANER Patented Dec. 2, 1952 Walter L. Gaskell; Ypsilanti, Mich, assignor to Kinge-Seeley Corporation, Ypsilanti, Mich., a

corporation of- Michigan Application March 22, 1947, Serial No. 736,560

Glaims. 1

This invention relates to jointers and planers, hereinafter referred to asjointers for ease in description, andparticularly to a type-thereof'that ispreeminently suited foruse in the home workshop althoughnot restricted to such limited-use.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a jointer of new and novel construction permitting great accuracy in the relation of various parts thereof and capable of being manufactured at a minimum of cost; the provision of a jointer of rugged construction permitting a highdegree of misuse Without materially affecting the accuracy of the same; the provision of ajointer in which the tables thereof may be accurately aligned with one another at a minimum of manufacturing expense; the provision of a jointer in which the tables may be accurately located with respect to each other and with respect to the cutting edges of the cutter in the simple and eii'ectiv manner; the provision of a jointer having a novel means for adjusting the position of the tables with respect to the base so as to enable the tables to be accurately aligned with'one-another; the provision of' a jointerhaving novel means for adjustably mounting a fence'guide bar thereon so as-to enable' itto be brought into accurate perpendicularity with respect tothe axis of the. cutter. longitudinally of the jointer; the provision of 1 a jointer having ag-uard for that portion of thecutter projecting on the inoperative side ofthe fence and so constructedand-arranged as to provide an anchor or brace for thefreeend of the fence therebyto prevent it from yielding in use; the provision of a jointer having novel form of cutter guard for that portion of the cutter on the operative side of the fence; the provision of a cutter guard-for a jointer as last described including means formaintaining-the cutter guard at a predetermined height with respectto the rear table of the jointer regardless of the adjusted height of the front table; the provision of a cutter guard for a jointer spring pressed towards operative position at all times and so constructed and arranged as topermit substantially instantaneous removal and replacement; the provision .of a jointer in which the movable table is mounted on pairs ofwedges or dovetails in whichone of eachpairs is fixedwith respecttothe base, means are providedforadjusting the cutter into parallelism withthe plane of the upper side-of the movable table; andthe fixed or rear table is adjustable mounted on the base of the jointer so as to enable it to'be brought into parallel relation with respect to the surface of. the movable table; and the provision of a 2 jointer having new and useful details. oft con;- struction.

The above being. amongthe objects of themes;- ent invention the same consists inlcertaim novel features of construction. and? combinations? of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying-drawings, andthencl-aimed, having the above and other objectsxin' view;

In the accompanying drawings cwhichiillustrate suitable embodiments. of the. present: invention and. in which like numerals refer to lih'erparts throughout the several differentviews;

Fig; l is a side' e'levational view' of. a jointer embodying featuresofsthe present invention;

Fig. 2 isa partly'brolreniplan view ofthejointer shown. in.Fig.' 1;

Fig. 3 isha partially: broken end; view of the jointer shown in the preceding:views,.taken1as looking from the right-handend of Fig. 1;;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the jointer shown in the. preceding. viewsi taken on the line 4-4 'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is anenlargedfragmentary transverse sectional view taken on: the line 5'-5=of? Fig: 2 and showing in greater. detail tne'smeans employed for. mountingithefence guideionlthe'base;

Fig. 6. 151 an enlarged, fragmentary, partly brokenvertical sectional view taken. on. the line 6-6. of Fig. 2, and illustrating theime'ans: for mounting. the outer. cutter guard;

Fig. Gals a fragmentary. sectional view taken on the 1ine:6a-Ba ofJFig. 6;

Fig. 7 is. an enlarged, fragmentary, partly broken, partly sectioned. plan view of a modified form of cutter guardsupport;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, partly. broken; vertical sectional view takenonthe line 8-8ofFig: '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 9'-9-of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse Verticalsectional'view taken on the line |ll|ll"of Fig. 4 to better illustrate the mounting of'the movable table andthe base;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one ofthe wedge block spacers employedin connection withzthe fence guidebar;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalrview taken through a modifiedformof "mechanism: for mounting the tables on the base;

Fig. 13 is a partlybroken, fragmentary, side elevational view of a modified form of "jointer construction having a vertically adjustable-cut ter;

Fig. 14 isan enlargedIfragmentar-y transverse 24, a pair of similar depending bosses 42.

sectional view taken on the line Iii-i i of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line i 5-i5 of Fig. 13.

Generally speaking the jointer of the present invention includes the same main elements as any conventional jointer. For instance it includes a base 20, shown as being provided with integral foot portions 22 adapting it to be supported on a bench or other suitable supporting structure, a so-called fixed rear table 2 3 and a so-called front and vertically adjustable table 26, together with a transverse cutter assembly indicated generally at 28 mounted between the opposed ends of the table i l and 26. It is also provided with a so-called fence 3t projecting above the upper face of the tables 2 3 and 26 and extending longitudinally thereof in perpendicular relationship with respect to the axis of the cutter 28 so as to form a guide for the work being operated upon.

In most jointers and particularly those constructed for use in home workshops, it is customary to form the rear table 2d integrally with the base, with the result that unless the opposite ends of the cutter 28 are independently vertically adjustable great care must be exercised in ma chining the upper surface of the rear table into exact parallelism with the axis of the cutter, and usually requiring machining of the working faces of both the front and rear tables when assembled into conformity with each other and with the axis of the cutter. In accordance with the present invention the rear table it is formed separately from the base 29 and its upper surface is finally machined before application thereto. It will be understood that in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive the cutter 28 rotates about a fixed axis on the base and is incapable of vertical adjustment. In such case it will be appreciated that in mounting the table 24 on the base 20 the upper surface of the table 24 must not only be brought into parallelism with the axis of rotation of the cutter 28, but it must be so vertically positioned that the plane of its upper surface is substantially tangent to the cylinder of rotation, which the cutting edges of the cutter blades 32 of the cutter 28 describe in rotation about the axis of the shaft 34 on which the cutter 28 is mounted. The opposite ends of the shaft 3d are mounted in suitable bearings 35 (see Fig. 1), fixed in the opposite side walls of the base 26. At the right-hand side of the jointer, considered as the far side in Fig. 1 and the upper side in Fig. 2, the shaft 3Q is provided with a driving pulley 3t (see Fig. 3) adapted to be connected by means of a belt or the like to a suitable driving motor.

In the present case, in order to mount the table 24 in the manner stated and to not only bring it into parallelism with the axis of the shaft 34 but also in a tangent relation with respect to the cylinder rotation defined by the cutting edges of the blades 32, the base 20 has integrally formed therewithat its rear or left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 4 a transverse flange or lug 3?, and between it and the cutter 28, and closer to the cutter 28, a cross bar 38. Midway of the width of the table 24 and in vertical alignment with the flange 37, the table 24 is provided with an integrally formed depending boss ill, and, as best brought out in Figs. 2 and 4 in vertical alignment with the cross bar 38, but positioned on opposite sides of the centerline of the table Each of the bosses All and 42 is provided centrally of the lower face with an upwardly extending blind threaded hole id and the flange 36 and the cross bar (it in vertical alignment with each of these holes id is provided with an aligned threaded opening in which a hollow leveling or jack screw or stud 66 is threadably received. As best brought out in Fig. 10, in which the same leveling screws or studs 46 are employed, it will be noted that the upper end of each such screw or stud is formed to provide a concentric spherical seat for complementary reception of a partially spherical washer 58 having a fiat upper face arranged in flat contacting, and therefor supporting, relationship with respect to the lower face of the corresponding boss 49 or 42.

A locking screw fill rotatably and slidably projects up through each adjusting stud or screw it and its upper end threads into the corresponding opening Ml. Preferably a lock washer 52 is interposed between the head of the screw 59 and the head of the adjusting screw it so as to prevent inadvertent displacement between these two screws once their adjusted position is established. To further hold these parts and particularly the adjusting screw 38 against movement once its adjusted position has been established, the upper ends of the adjusting screws it are diametrically slotted at right angles to each other as indicated at M, and as best brought out in Figs. 9 and 10, so that when the locking screws 5% are pulled down tightly the force tending to clamp the washers it between the table it and the upper ends of the screws es act to radially spread the upper ends of the adjusting screws and to cause them to securely bind with the cooperating threads in the flange 3? or bar (it, as the case may be.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the three screw assemblies described serve to support the rear table it from the base 2% and form a three-point support therefor. The adjusting screws it may be adjusted so as to raise or lower the table 2d to any desired position within the vertical adjustable range of the screws 26 and, in accordance with well known principles, by suitably adjusting the screws tii. The plane of the upper surface of the table 'Z-i may be tipped in any direction and thus be brought into exact parallelism with the axis of the cutting shaft 34 and/ or into exact parallelism with the upper face of the table it, and once such position is attained, the table 24 may be securely locked in such position by tightening the screws 59.

In the latter connection a modified form of construction is illustrated in Fig. 12 wherein it may be assumed to be applied to the table 24 and the cross bar 38. The same locking screw 50 is employed and in this case projects directly up through the cross bar 38 and is threaded into the opening fi l in the boss 32. Between the lower face of the boss 42 and the upper face of the cross bar 38 a suitable resilient element 55 is interposed, and while in the broader aspects of the invention this may be either a relatively heavy coil spring or a block of resilient material such as rubber, preferably and as shown it comprises a relatively thick washer of rubber or rubber-like material surrounding the screw Fifi. It is preferably made of a grade of natural or synthetic rubber which will maintain its resiliency over a relatively long period of time even though maintained under a material compressive stress for such period of time.

In the last described form of construction the abi es? block 55" is preferably ofa vertical dimension such that in afree stateitwill locate thetable 24 above the highest position which it will normally assume in service, so that in order to bring the upper face of the table down to an operative position the screws 5t must be tightened up to diminish the Vertical dimension of the block 5'5 and place the same under a material vertical loadgreater thanthe normal load which may be expected to be applied to the upper surfacesof the table 24 in service. It will be appreciated that with this construction vertical adjustment of the table 24 at the location of each screw 55 is controlled solely through rotation of the screw 50. The same lockwashers 52 are preferably provided under the heads of the screws 5!) in this case as in the previous case, but the friction builtup between the threads of the screw 59 and the threads of the openings 44, together with the friction between the resilient block 55 and the screw Eiiresulting in the squeezing of the block 56 will be ordinarily found to be suiiicient to prevent disturbances of the adjustment made. This typeof construction has been found particularly suitable for the smaller sizes of jointers.

The table 26, in order to be vertically adjustable, is mounted on thebase Zil by means of a pair of dovetail or Wedge assemblies best brought out in Figs. 4 and 10. Each assembly comprises a lower member it and an upper member 62 having side walls 64 and t6, respectively, and cooperating to form a box-like structure with the corresponding side walls 64 and 66 in edgewise abutting relation with respect to each other with the line of junction disposed at an angle to the horizontal as indicated in Fig. 4, preferably at an angle of 30 to the horizontal. Where the side walls 64 and t6 engage each other, as brought out in Fig. 10, they are outwardly flanged to form relatively wide opposed and contactin slide surfaces lift and iii respectively. Additionally, the left-hand surface as viewed in Fig. 10, is provided at each side thereof with a downwardly projecting bead l2 which embraces opposite edges of the flange forming the surface 68 so as to maintain the slide surfaces E58 and 10 in vertical alignment. Inasmuch as the engagement between the members 5i! and 62 is relied upon to maintain the lateral position of the table 26 with respect to the base, to further maintain the members 6!! and 62 of each assembly against lateral displacement with respect to each other a block 14 is positioned at each side of each assembly and is provided with a central groove or recess '16 which closely embraces the outwardly extending flanges at the surfaces 68 and iii. The blocks 74 are securely fastened to the lower member 64 by means of screws '18, and above thegroove 16 the inner faces of the blocks 14 slida-bly abut against the outer surfaces of the side walls 66, thereby holding the upper member 62 against lateral displacement with respect to the lower member 60. The walls of the grooves T6 in embracing the outwardly turned flanges at the surfaces 68 and 10 slidably embraces the flange for the upper surface Iil so as not to restrict lengthwise movement between these surfaces, and in embracing the flanges as describedholds the surfaces 68 and'lil'in substantial contact with each other'so asto prevent inadvertent vertical separation of the members 60 and 62 andconsequent inadvertent upward movement of the front table 26 with respect to the base 2|].

The upper member 620i each dovetail assembly-Gamay be secured-to the table in any suitable manner, this being accomplished in the case shown by projecting screws upwardly 'through the upper wall of the upper member 62 and threading them into depending bosses 82 formed integrally with the table 26.

Particularly where the cutter 28 is vertically adjustable with respect to the basezfl and its ends may be independently adjusted so as to enable its axis to be brought into parallel relation with respect to the upper surface of the table 26; the lower member 60 of each dovetailassembly may be rigidly secured with respect to the base 20. Even wherethe cutter shaft'34 rotates in bearings fixed with respect tothe base, that is, which are not vertically adjustable with respect tothe base. it would of course be possible after-assembling the tableZfi to the base 20 to machine its upper surface to bring it into parallel relationship with respect to the axis of the cutter shaft 3-4. However, such procedure would involve manufacturing difficulties and increase the cost of production thereof, and accordingly it is preferable in such case to mount the dovetail assemblies so as to permit the same kind of adjustment of the table 26 as heretofore described in connection with the table .24. This last is the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive andis accomplished as follows.

The base 20 is provided with atransversebar 84 formed integrally therewith below the lefthand dovetail assembly and, as b'est'broughtout in Fig. 10, such bar at points preferably'spaced on opposite. sides of th longitudinal centerline of the base and adjacent thesides ofthe lower member til is provided with a pair of threaded openings 86 in each of which an adjusting stud or screw 46 is received. These adjustingv screws 46 are identical to those previously described in that they have diametrically slotted upper end portions and the extreme upper ends thereofar-e formed for complementary reception of the spherical washers 2b which are located above the upper face of the cross bar 84. Screws 5D identical to the screws previously described. rota-tably and slidably project up through the adjusting screws 45 and thread into the lower wall of the dovetail membe 60 therea'bo-ve.

Below the forward or right-hand dovetail assembly, as viewed in Fig. 4, a cross bar 88 extends between opposite sides of the base 20 and. is preferably formed integrally therewith. In this case a single adjusting screw 46 is threaded upwardly through the bar 88 on the longitudinal centerline of the base and therefore engagesthe lower member Bil of the corresponding dovetail at the center thereof. Likewise, a locking screw 50 rotatably and slidably projects up through the adjusting screw 45 and threads into the corresponding lower member 60 on the centerline thereof. Thus, the front table 26 through the dovetail assemblies is mounted on the base through three points of support, each of which is vertically adjustable. Thus, by adjusting the three adjusting screws 46 for the table 26,. the table 26 may be brought into exact parallelism with the axis of the cutter shaft 34, and by means of the adjusting screws for both tables 24 and 26 the upper faces of both tables may be brought into absolute parallelism Withthe axis of the cutter shaft 34 and the upper surface of the table24 may be brought into tangent relationship with respect to the cylinder circumscribed bythe cutting edges of the cutter blades 32 of the cutter 2-8-in rotation, thus establishingthe proper relationship of both tables with respect to each other and to the cutter.

It will of course be appreciated that movement of the table 26 longitudinally of the jointer and acting through the dovetail assemblies is relied upon to raise or lower the table 26 to vary the depth of out being performed upon a place of work being machined by the j ointer. This longitudinal movement of the table 26 is accomplished in the following manner. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the cross bar 8% is provided centrally thereof with a lug or boss 9t projecting to the right therefrom. The boss 99 is provided in its right-hand face with a cylindrical blind bore 92 preferably positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the base. The bore 92 rotatably receives the inner reduced cylindrical end of a screw 9d projectin through a hole 95 in the right-hand wall of the base 2d where it is rotatably received, and outwardly of such wall is provided with a handwheel 98 suitably fixed thereto. The end of the screw 9 which is received within the bore 32 is provided with an annular groove ltd within the bore $2 and a dog end screw m2 is threaded transversely through the boss 9t and its dog end is received within the groove Idd, thus to lock the screw 9% against axial movement without restricting rotation thereof. The screw M2 is locked in position by a suitable lock nut.

Threadably received on the screw M is a nut Hit. A block IE5 is secured to the underside of the top wall of the corresponding upper dovetail member I82 by means of a screw Idii. A link IIt is pivotally connected to the block Iiiii by means of a pivot pin II2 and to the nut ltd by means of a pivot pin Md. The pivot pins II2 and II I are parallel to each other and arranged with their axes in a plane parallel to the meeting faces 68 and Id of the dovetail members and transverse to the length of the machine. Thus, upon rotation of the handwheel t8 and screw 94 the nut Id l is caused to travel longitudinally of the screw dd and, acting through the link III? and block Idd, causes the table 26 to move longitudinally of the base 2%, through the inclined surfaces 68 and if? of the dovetail assemblies raising or lowering the table 26, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screw 9d.

As in conventional constructions, a guard is provided in overlying relationship with respect to the cutter 28 on the operative side of the fence and is automatically pushed out of the way as a piece of work is moved over the tables 24 and 26 in contact with the fence. In this case, however, the guard is mounted in a novel manner so that its lower face is maintained at a constant distance above the surface of the table 24% regardless of the vertically adjustable position of the table 25. It is further constructed and arranged so that it may be substantially instantaneously removed or reapplied to the machine Without the necessity of disconnecting any screws, springs or the like. This is accomplished in the following manner. The

table 26 at its left-hand side, as viewed from the operating end of the machine, and at a. point located toward the operating end of the machine from the cutter 28, is provided with a vertically disposed stepped opening I best brought out in Fig. 6. A cylindrical plug I22 provided with an annular flange I24 at its upper end is complementarily rotatably received in the opening I20 as indicated in Fig. 6. The plug I2li is provided with a square axial bore or opening I 26 in which a square shaft I23 is vertically freely slidably but such longitudinal movement acting non-rotatably received. The upper end of the shaft I28 has fixed thereto the cutter guard I30 which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, extends therefrom into normally overlying relationship with respect to the cutter 28 and is provided with a rounded inner edge I32 which the work is adapted to engage when being fed across the cutter 28, thereby to move the guard out of overlying relationship with respect to the cutter as the work is fed across the cutter.

A sheet metal arm I35 is secured by screws I 35 to the lower face of the plug I22 below the corresponding face of the table 26. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a coil tension spring I38 is tensioned between the free end of the arm I35 and the cross bar 53 so as to constantly urge the arm I3 and consequently the plug I22 and guard I 39 in a clockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Fig. 2. ,As best brought out in Fig. 6, the base 28 immediately below the post I28 is provided with a surface U353 upon which the lower end of the post rests, thus to hold the lower face of the guard 3i) vertically spaced from the upper face of the table by a predetermined distance, because the post I28 is vertically slidable in the plug I22, this last spacing will be maintained regardless of the vertically adjusted position of the table 28.

Means are preferably provided to prevent the guard Itd from swinging in a clockwise direction under the influence of spring I38 beyond a position corresponding with a position of the fence 3?; at its extreme right-hand position on the machine when viewed from the operating end thereof. In the case shown, this is accomplished by forming a notch or recess M2 in the underside of the flange I2I, as brought out in Figs. 6 and 6a. As indicated in this latter figure the notch I 32 is of an angular extent of approximately about the axis of the plug I22. A pin I I I is secured, as by a drive fit, in the shoulder formed between the stepped portions of the opening I253 and projects upwardly into the notch I432. When the guard I38 is in its extreme position of rotation in a clockwise direction about the axis of the opening IZd the pin ltd, as illustrated in Fig. 6a, contacts one end of the notch I42 and limits further movement in this direction under the influence of the spring I38. By this means the guard I38, when it is desired to remove it for any purpose whatever, is simply grasped by the hands and lifted vertically, withdrawing the post I28 with it out of the plug I22.

The plug I22 will not be lifted when the post I28 and guard I38 are lifted, inasmuch as the projecting end of the arm I34 underlies the lower face of the associated portion of the table 26 and acts to hold the plug I22 against vertical withdrawal, nor will the tension on the spring I33 be wholly relieved. When it is desired to replace the guard I39 the lower end of the post I28 is reinserted into the opening I26 in the proper rotatable position, and simply pressed downwardly until its lower end strikes the surface [4i] at the base 26. To facilitate the assembly of the post I28 to the plug I22 when the fence 30 is in any position except its extreme right position, as viewed from the operating end of the machine, the post I28 is preferably of such length that its lower end may be introduced into the bore I25 of the plug I22 when the guard I33 partially overlies the upper edge of the fence (ill, and in such case as soon as this is done the guard may be swung in a counterclockwise direction until it clears the fence 3%, and then be pushed downwardly to its normal operative position.

A modified form of the last described mounting for the guard I I30 is shown in Figs. '1 and 8. In this case, and as brought out in Fig. 8, the table 26 is similarly provided with a stepped opening Ia, corresponding with the opening E20 of the first described construction, and similarly receives a flanged plug I22a, corresponding with the plug I22 first described. The lower face of the flangedend of the plug I22a is notched out as at I42a the same as in the first described construction, and a pin I44a, corresponding to the pin I44 of the first described construction, is provided in the same cooperating relationship with respect thereto to limit the rotatable movement of the guard and the plug I22a. Instead of using a tension spring to rotate the plug I22a as in the first described construction, in thiscase the lower end of the plug I22a projects downwardly below the associated lower face of the table 25 where it is surrounded by a sheet metal sleeve I50 terminating at its lower end in an outwardly turned flange I52. A torsion spring I54 surrounds the sleeve I50 and, as brought out in Fig. '7, its upper free end is turned into an eye I55 which receives a screw I53 and which in turn projects through the sleeve I59 and threads into the plug I22a so as to anchor such free end of the spring to the plug IZZa. The screw I53 in projecting through the sleeve I55 also serves to lock the-sleeve I55 to the plug member I22a and in abutting against the .overlyingsurface of the table 26 thus serves to lock the plug I220: against vertical withdrawal from the table 25 when the guard I and post I28 are raised therefrom. The remaining free end of the spring I54 is extended as at I55, shown in Fig. 7, and bears against a side Wall of the table 26 so as to maintain the spring E54 under a predetermined torsion thereby to constantly urge the guard I30 in a clockwise direction of rotation as viewed in plan view. As in the first described case, the lower end of the post I28 is adapted to engage the base 2!! so as to maintain the guard I36 at a constant spacing above the upper surface of the table 24, but in this case a sheet metal member I62, shown in Fig. 8, is secured to the table 25 below the post I28 by means of a screw I64, and the lower end of the post abuts the member 152 instead of directly abutting the base 20.

The fence 3! is generally of conventional construction and comprises an elongated blade-like element as shown, fixed at its rearend by screws such as I10 to the forward face of a supporting member I12 mounted for sliding movement along a transverse cylindrical guide bar I14 extending I horizontally across the operating end of the table 26. This last is accomplished by means of a member I16 which surrounds the guide bar I14. which member is slotted through its forward face so as to permit passage of the member I15 over the supports for the bar I14 and which sup-- ports will hereinafter be described in detail. A sleeve member I11 is threadably received at one end by the member I15 and more'or less loosely projects through an arcuate slot I18 (Fig. 3) in the member I12 in which it is rotatably andslidably received, and rearwardly of the latter receives a nut member I19 thereon which may be tightened by a wrench or handle I89 to lock the end member iI12 against movement with respect to the member I16.

The sleeve I16 is internally threaded and receives therein a screw member I82 whichmay also be operated by the'handle I to lock the member I16 and therefore the member I12 and fence 30 against movement axially of the guide rod I14. The lower edge of the fence 30, as brought out in Fig. 4, rests on the upper surface of the table 25 at a point in axial alignment with the axis of curvature of the arcuate opening I18 in the member I12 and thus serves as a fulcrum point about which the fence 35 may be pivoted along a line extending longitudinally of the machine. Also, in accordance with the conventional practice, the rear face of the member I12 is provided with a scale I66 cooperating with a pointer 55% for enabling the angularity of the operative face of the fence 35 with respect to the plane of the tables 23 and 24' to be visually determined.

In accordance with the present invention, the guide bar I14 is mounted on the table 26 in a new and novel manner which permits ready adjustmentthereof so as 'to bring the operative face of the fence into exact perpendicular relationship longitudinally of the machine with respect to the axis of rotation of the cutter 23. This is accomplished as best brought out in Figs. 2 and 5. As brought out in these figures the opposite ends of the guide bar I14 are each secured to the rear edge of the table 26 by means of a screw I95. Each screw I projects outwardly through and is closely received in a-suitable opening I92 in the rear edge of the table 26, through a pair of adjusting spacer members I94 and I96, and threads into the bar I14.

The spacer I94 is provided with an outer face adapted for flat contacting relationship with the rear edge face of the table 26, and the spacer I95 is provided with a curved outer face received in complementary relationship with respect to the curved periphery of the bar I14. The opposed and contacting faces of the spacers I94 and I95 are stepped as indicated inFig. 5 to prevent relative rotation between them, andthe spacers I94 and Hit: as brought out in Fig. 2, are tapered in thickness in th opposite directions so as to act as wedges sr Lhat upon relative sliding movement in a direction longitudinally of the guide bar I14 their combined or effective thickness in spacing the guide bar I14 from the rear edge of the table 26 may be varied. The hole in the spacer I95 closely receives the screw I90, but the hole I98 in the spacer I94 through which the screw I9!) projects, as brought out in Fig. 11, is elongated in the direction of the guide bar I14 topermit such relative movement between the spacers. It willbe noted from. Fig. 2 that the spacers I 94 at opposite sides of the table 26 are disposed with their contacting faces at opposite angles to each other in the construction shown, although it will be appreciated from the following description that even though they are disposed at the same angle their adjusting function will still be preserved.

In practice, the guide bar I14 is mounted in the manner shown, the fence 30 is mounted thereon, and then suitable gage means are provided to indicate whether the operative face of the fence 33 is in perpendicular relationship with. respect to the axis of the cutter 28, and if not, the spacer I94 at one end or the other of the guide bar I14 is shifted longitudinally of the guide bar I14, while its corresponding screw I95 is loosened, until the operative face of the fence 35 is in the desired perpendicular relationship with. respect to the axis of the cutter 28, whereupon the screws IQilare firmly drawn into place, thus locking the guide bar I14 in a position to hold the fence in.

its desired final position with respect to the axis of the cutter 28. By this means the need of accurate machining of the rear face of the table 26 and seats for the guide bar I'M is eliminated, yet the guide bar I'M may be quickly and easily adjusted upon assembly to the table 26 to insure accurate placement of the fence til with respect to the axis of the cutter 28.

It will be appreciated that when the fence 3c is shifted to the left, when viewed from the operating end of the jointer, a greater or lesser extent of the cutter 23 will project beyond the righthand side of the fence and offer a hazard unless covered or enclosed. For the purpose of providing a guard for such portion of the cutter 28, a sheet metal guard 2M is provided. The main portion of the guard 288, as best brought out in Fig. 4, is made of inverted channel section in order to give it strength and rigidity, but the right-hand edge thereof, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4 is bent horizontally outwardly as at 2&2. The portion 2522 is extended towards the centerline of the machine and its extreme inner end is upwardly bent as indicated at 2% in Fig. 3, and is connected by a hinge indicated generally at 201 in Fig. 3 to the outer or right-hand face of the fence 39 by means of screws 2%.

A member 299 (Fig. 4) is fixed with respect to the right-hand face of the table 22: and, as best brought out in Fig. 3, is provided with an upstanding post portion 209 positioned directly below the portion 202 of the guard 2%, and is formed at its upper end to provide an upwardly projecting stud 2 iii which projects upwardly through a slot 2 l2 formed in the portion 282 of the guard 200 in parallel relation with respect to the axis of the cutter, as brought out in Fig. 2. The shoulder which is formed between the post 209 and the stud 2 It! lies directly below the portion 202 of the guard 200 and is formed as a part of a spherical surface, and receives thereon a washer 2M provided with a complementary spherical surface permitting swiveling action of the washer 2M on the upper end of the part 299. The washer 2 I4 is interposed between the aforesaid shoulder and the lower face of the portion 282 of the guard 2M3. Threadably received on the stud 2H3 above the guard 288 is a hand nut H6 and interposed between its lower end and the upper face of the portion 202 is a spherically surfaced washer 2l8 which cooperates therewith in the same manner as the washer 2 i4 cooperates with the part 299.

It Will be appreciated that when the hand nut 2| 6 is tightened down on the stud 2!!) it acts through the washers 2! 8 and 2 M to rigidly clamp the guard 2930 to the part 209, which as above described is fixed with respect to the table 26. The part 209 and the washer 2M thus not only serves as a means for supporting the outer end of the guard 200, but in conjunction with washer 2E8 and the hand nut 215, provides a means by which the guard serves as a brace for the free end of the fence 32 to reinforce it against deflection due to lateral pressure applied to such free end during a planing or joining operation.

It will be observed that when the plane of the operative face of the fence is varied with respect to the plane of the upper faces of the tables 24 and 26 by adjusting it about the axis of the arcuate slot I18, the pivot pin of the hinge 281 will be raised or lowered depending upon the direction and'degree of such adjusting movement. The spherical washers 2M and ZIB are provided to compensate for this condition inasmuch as under such circumstances they may shift relative to their associated parts to align their opposed flat faces with the plane of the portion 202 of the guard Ziill as shifted by such adjustment, and thereby prevent any bending strain from being unnecessarily built up in the guard 263E under such circumstances. It will also be appreciated that when the hand nut M6 is loosened, the fence 3% may be shifted longitudinally of the guide bar i it under which conditions the relative travel of the stud 24s in the slot 2l2 will permit the free end portion of the fence to move in accordanoe with such adjustment without restriction, and that when the hand nut 255 is tight ened, the guard 2st will form an effective brace for the free end of the fence in its such adjusted position.

It has heretofore been explained that in cases where the cutter is vertically adjustable on the base, and particularly where the opposite ends of the cutter are independently vertically adjustable, either one of the tables may be rigidly secured with respect to the base, and the adjusting screws 46 and locking screws 5?: for such table eliminated. Such construction is illustrated in Figs. l3, l4 and 15, and in this case, as a matter of illustration, it is considered that the adjusting screws under the dovetail assemblies have been eliminated and that the lower members iii? of the assemblies are nonadjustably secured to the cross bars at and 33, or to the equivalent thereof. Although the right-hand end of the machine is not shown in Fig. 13, it will be understood that it may be the same as shown in Fig. 4, for instance, but modified so that the screws 53 or the equivalent thereof secure the lower dovetail members Eli in rigid and fixed relation with respect to the cross bars at and 83. The construction of the machine shown in Fig. 13, except for the vertical adjustment of the bearings for the cutter, may be considered to be identical to that shown in Fig. 4. In other words, the base 202; may be considered to be identical to the base 20 in theflrst described construction except as changed to accommodate it for the modified cutter supporting arrangement, and the table 24b may be considered to be identical to the table 24 first described and mounted on the base 253?) in identically the same manner, that is by means of adjusting screws d6, locking screws 58 and spherical washers it. The cutter 28 may be identical to the cutter first described.

In this case, the base 23b in vertical central alignment with the axis of the cutter shaft 36 is provided in each of its opposite and outer side faces with a vertically extending rectangularly sectioned groove 23B therein. Vertically slidably received in each groove 23a is a bearing block or carrier 232 accurately guided between the opposite side edges thereof. At their upper ends the bearing carriers are each provided on their inner face with a pocket 2% in which a ball bearing assembly 235 is suitably mounted as by press fit. The cutter shaft 3 5 at opposite ends of the cutter 28 is received by the inner races of the bearings 235. It will also be appreciated that the bearing carrier 232 on the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 2 is provided with a central opening of sufficient size to permit the cutter shaft 3d to project therethroug-h so as to receive a driving pulley on its outwardly projecting end. The bearing carriers 232 are each secured in vertically adjusted position by means of a pair of vertically spaced screws 2 32 which project through a central vertical slot 2E2 therein 1-3 andthr'ead into the base 20b. Lockwashersfls interposed "between the heads of the screws 2.40 and the bear'ingsupports 2321aid in locking-the bearing supports 232 in their vertically adjusted position and against inadvertent movement.

To provideafine adjustment to the vertical positions. of the bearing. supports 232, therebyto enable the cutter 28to be readilyadjusted to bring its'axis into accurate parallelism with the plane of the upper surface of'the table 2619, each bearing support 232 is provided with a centrally located screw 266 threaded upwardlyirom the lowor "face thereof. Below the head of the screw 246 a stud or pin 241Jis secured to the base 201), as by threading thereinto, and extends into underlyingrelation tothe headof the screw 246 and servesas a downward-stop for the screw and therefore the bearing support 232. Thus, when the screws 24!! are loosened, each bearing carrier 232 may be adjusted by rotating the corresponding screw 2% until the corresponding end of the cutter 28 is in the desired position, whereupon thescrews 240 may be tightened to lock the corresponding carrier "232 in such position. In such adjustment it will be appreciated that when the screw 246 is threaded downwardly, its head, in bearing against the pin or stud 241, will force the corresponding bearing carrier 232 upwardly, and when turned in the opposite direction the force-of gravity acting on thebearing carrier 232 and the cutter 28 will maintain the head of the screw 24!; in contact with the pin or stud 241. As indicated in Figs. 13 and 15, a sheet metal housing such as 250is preferably mounted in overlying relationship with respect to each of thebearing carriers 232 and is removably secured in place by means of screws 252 extending through keyhole slots 254 in such housing and threading into the base 20b.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, thescopeof which is commensurate with the appended claims.

The cutter guard construction-described herein forms thesubject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 272,960, filed February 23, 1952, entitled Cutter Guard.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, rotatable cutter means disposed transversely of said base intermediate its ends, a table overlying said base on each side of said cutter, said base under one of sa'idxtables beingprovidedwith three vertically directed openings therein one of which is disposed adjacent one end thereof and approximately on the longitudinal centerline thereof and the other two of which are disposed on the same side of said cutter as the first mentioned opening but in materially closer relationship to'said cutter and disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline in approximate alignment with each other transversely of said base, a hollow screw member threaded upwardly through eachof said openings, a spherical washer interposed between the upper end of each of said screw members and saidtableg'and a second screw member rota-tablyand slidably projecting through each of said hollow 'screwmembers and through the corresponding ones of said washers and threading into said table, the upper ends of said screw members being diametrically slotted wherebyswhen said second screws aretightened up the force exertedbetween said spherical washers and em se? '14 the slotted ends of said hollow screw members tends to spread the ends of said hollow screw members and to lock them in said openings.

2. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base part, a table part, a pair of dovetailed assemblies spaced longitudinally of said base part from one another interposed between said base part and said table part, each of said dovetailed assemblies including a pair of relatively shiftable members having opposed slidably engaging faces disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means immovably securing one memberof each of said assemblies to one of said parts, means securing the other member of one of said assemblies to the other of said parts for vertical adjustable movement with respect thereto, said last mentioned means comprising a screw device disposed approximately on the longitudinal centerline of said base, and means for vertically adjustably supporting the other member of the other of said'assemblies onthe other of said parts, the'last mentioned means comprising a pair of screw-devices spaced from one another transversely of said part and on opposite sides of said centerline.

3. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base about an axis transverse to the length of said base, a table on said base at one side of said cutter, a pair of dovetails interposed between said base and said table spaced from one another longitudinally of said base, each of said dovetails comprising a pair of cooperated members having opposed slidably engaging faces disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means immovably fixing the upper of said members with respect to said table, and means securing the lower of said members to said base for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, said last mentioned means comprising three screw devices interposed between said lower members and said base, one of said screw devices serving to secure one of said lower members on said base and being located approximately on the longitudinal centerline of said base, and the two remaining screw devices serving to secure the other of said lower members to said base and being located on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said base.

4. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a 'cutter rotatably mounted on said base about an axis transverse to the length of said base, a table on said base at one side of said cutter, a pair of dovetails interposed between said base and said table spaced from one another longitudinally of said base, each, of said dovetails comprising a pair of cooperatedmembers having opposed slidably engaging faces disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means immovably fixing the upper of said members with respect to said table, and means securing the lower of said members to said base for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, said last mentioned means comprising three screw devices interposed between said lower members and said base, one or said screw devices serving to secure one of said lower members on said base and being located approximately on the longitudinal centerline of said base, and the two remaining screw devices serving to secure the other of said lower members to said base and being located on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said base, said screw devices each including a vertically directed screw element interposed between said base and said table and means in closely adjacent relationship'with respect-to each-of said screw elements spacing said table from an adjacent portion of said base.

5. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base about an axis transverse to the length of said base, a table on said base at one side of said cutter, a pair of dovetails interposed between said base and said table spaced from one another longitudinally of said base, each of said dovetails comprising a pair of cooperated members having opposed slidably engaging faces disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means immovably fixing the upper of said members with respect to said table, and means securing the lower of said members to said base for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, said last mentioned means comprising three screw devices in terposed between said lower members and said base, one of said screw devices serving to secure one of said lower members on said base and being located approximately on the longitudinal centerline of said base, the two remaining screw devices serving to secure the other of said lower members to said base and being located on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said base, said last mentioned means each comprising a hollow screw element threaded vertically through a portion of said base and serving to space said table from said base, and another screw element rotatably and slidably projecting up through each of said first mentioned screw elements threading into said base and tending to draw said table toward the corresponding of the first mentioned screw elements.

6. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter, bearings for the opposite ends of said cutter, a bearing support for each of said bearings vertically adjustably mounted on a corresponding side of said base, a table overlying said base on one side of said cutter, vertically adjustable means interposed between said base and said table supporting said table on said base, there being three of said vertically adjustable means, one located adjacent one end of said table approximately on the longitudinal centerline of said base and the remaining two of which are located adjacent that end of said table closest to said cutter, the last two mentioned adjusting means being in approximate alignment with each other transversely of said base and located on opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline of said base, a second table mounted on said base on that side of said cutter opposite the first mentioned table, and a pair of dovetailed assemblies spaced from one another longitudinally of said base interposed between the second mentioned table and said base, said dovetailed assemblies each comprising a pair of superimposed wedge shaped members one of which is fixed with respect to said second mentioned table and the other of which is fixed with respect to said base, and means interconnecting said table and said base for shifting said table longitudinally of said base on said assemblies.

7. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter, fixed bearings for opposite ends of said cutter mounted on said base and providing a fixed axis of rotation for the cutter, a table overlying said base on one side of said cutter, vertically adjustable means interposed between said base and said table and supporting said table on said base, there being three of said vertically adjustable means, one located adjacent one end of said table approximately on the longitudinal centerline of said base and the remaining two of which are located adjacent that end of said table closest to said cutter, the last two mentioned adjusting means bein in approximate alignment with each other transversely of said base and located on opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline of said base, a second table mounted on said base on that side of said cutter opposite the first mentioned table and a pair of dove-tailed assemblies spaced from one another longitudinally of said base interposed between the second mentioned table and said base, said dove-tailed assemblies each comprising a pair of superimposed wedged members one of which is fixed with respect to said second mentioned table and the other of which is fixed with respect to said base, and means interconnecting said table and said base for shifting said table longitudinally of said base on said assemblies.

8. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter mounted on said base for rotation about an axis transverse to the length of said base, a front table on said base on one side of said cutter, a rear table on said base on the other side of said cutter, a pair of inclined slide assemblies interposed between said base and said front table and spaced from one another longitudinally of said base, each of said assemblies comprising a pair of cooperating members having opposed slid-ably engaging faces disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means securing the upper of said members to the front table, means securing the lower of said members to the base, one of said means including vertically adjustable means capable of limited vertical movement to provide assembly adjustments of the front table with respect to the axis of the cutter, there being at least three of said vertically adjustable means, means interconnecting said front table and said base for shifting the table longitudinally of said base on said slidably engaging faces to provide operating adjustments in height of the table with respect to the axis of the cutter, means securing the rear table in fixed position on the base, said.

last means including vertically adjustable means permitting limited vertical movement of the rear table to provide assembly adjustments of its position with respect to the axis of the cutter, there being at least three of said last mentioned vertically adjustable means.

9. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, rotatable cutter means disposed transversely of said base intermediate its ends, a front table and a rear table each overlying said base on opposite sides of said cutter, said base under said rear table being provided with three vertically directed openings therein one of which is disposed adjacent one end thereof and approxi mately on the longitudinal centerline thereof and the other two of which are disposed on the same side of said cutter as the first mentioned openmg and on opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline in approximate alignment with each other transversely of said base, a hollow screw member threaded upwardly through each of said openings, a spherical washer interposed between the upper end of each of said screw members and said table to permit tipping of the table relative to the axes of said openings, a second screw member rotatably and slidably projecting through each of said hollow screw members and through the corresponding ones of said Washers and threading into said table, the upper ends of said screw members being diametrically slotted whereby when said second screws are tightened up the force exerted between said spherical washers and the slotted ends of said hollow screw members tends to spread the ends of said hollow screw members and to lock them in said openings, said screw members serving to fix the rear table in longitudinal operating position on the base while permitting slight tipping of the table at assembly to align it with said cutter means, inclined slide means movably supporting the front table on said base so that it is capable of operating adjustments both longitudinally and vertically with respect to said cutter means, and means acting between the front table and base for moving the front table on said slide means.

10. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, rotatable cutter means disposed transversely of said base intermediate its ends, a front table and a rear table each overlying said base on opposite sides of said cutter, said base under said rear table being provided with three vertically directed openings therein one of which is disposed adjacent one end thereof and approximately on the longitudinal centerline thereof and the other two of which are disposed on the same side of said cutter as the first mentioned opening and on opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline in approximate alignment with each other transversely of said base, a screw rotatably and slidably projecting upwardly through each of said openings and threaded into said table thereabove, and means interposed between said base and said table acting to space said table from said base, said spacing means comprising rings of rubberlike material surrounding each of said screws and normally maintained under compression between said base and said table, said screws serving to fix the rear table in longitudinal operating posi- 18 tion on the base While permitting slight tipping of the table at assembly to align it with said cutter means, inclined slide means movably supporting the front table on said base so that it is capable of operating adjustments both longitudinally and vertically with respect to said cutter means, and means acting between the front table and base for moving the front table on said slide means.

WALTER L. GASKELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 160,372 Wardell Mar. 2, 1875 167,749 Doane et a1 Sept. 14, 1875 227,223 Doane et a1 May 4, 1880 448,320 Colburn Mar. 17, 1891 481,371 Pyott Aug. 23, 1892 717,454 Rosen Dec. 30, 1902 878,911 Thomas Feb. 11, 1908 1,068,150 Markle July 22, 1913 1,073,300 :Solem Sept. 16, 1913 1,132,327 'Frish Mar. 16, 1915 1,346,867 Weibull July 20, 1920 1,508,685 Flohr Sept. 16, 1924 2,009,304 Tautz July 23, 1935 2,140,322 Lonskey Dec. 13, 1938 2,183,190 Haas Dec. 12, 1939 2,219,451 McCormick Oct. 29, 1940 2,320,435 Hood June 1, 1943 2,397,545 Hardinge Apr. 2, 1946 2,479,075 Martin Aug. 16, 1949 

